The Bollywood box office witnessed a dramatic tale of two films this week, with Ayushmann Khurrana's Thamma experiencing a catastrophic decline while Kartik Aaryan's horror-comedy continues its triumphant run.
Thamma's Troubling Decline
On its fourth day in theaters, Thamma faced a brutal reality check with collections nosediving by approximately 50%. The Maddock Films production, which had shown promise in its opening days, struggled to maintain audience interest despite Ayushmann Khurrana's star power and the studio's reputation for delivering quality content.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3's Blockbuster Performance
In stark contrast, the much-anticipated Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has been rewriting box office records, amassing an impressive ₹65 crore in its domestic collections. The horror-comedy franchise has demonstrated remarkable staying power, captivating audiences across demographics and proving the enduring appeal of well-executed genre films in Indian cinema.
Industry Analysis
The simultaneous performance of these two films highlights several key trends in contemporary Bollywood:
- Franchise power continues to dominate audience preferences
- Established horror-comedy formulas outperform experimental content
- Star power alone cannot guarantee box office success
- Word-of-mouth remains the ultimate decider of a film's fate
What's Next for Both Films?
While Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 shows no signs of slowing down and is expected to cross the ₹100 crore mark soon, Thamma faces an uphill battle to recover its production costs. Industry experts suggest the film will need strong streaming performance to offset its theatrical shortcomings.
The contrasting fortunes of these two releases serve as a compelling case study in the unpredictable nature of Bollywood box office dynamics, where established formulas sometimes triumph over innovative storytelling.
